Medical apparatus

ABSTRACT

A medical apparatus extracts at least one item in individual information about a patient from the individual information itself and condition information of a main unit. The medical apparatus further includes a display for displaying the extracted item such that the patient can confirm whether it is correct or not. The extracted item is, for instance, a patient ID, name, sex, or birth date.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application incorporates the entire content of JapanesePatent Application No. P2001-246873, filed Aug. 16, 2001.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates to a medical apparatus, such as atreatment apparatus for treating a patient or a medical imagingapparatus for imaging a patient.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Conventionally various types of medical apparatus, such as anX-ray diagnostic apparatus, an X-ray computed-tomography (X-ray CT)apparatus, a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) apparatus, a nuclearmedicine apparatus, a radiotherapy treatment apparatus, a shock wavetreatment apparatus, or a warm temperature treatment apparatus are usedfor contributing to medical improvements of illness diagnosis, progressobservation or medical treatment. For instance, an X-ray diagnosticapparatus, an X-ray CT apparatus, an MRI apparatus, and a nuclearmedicine apparatus are used for obtaining a medical image of a patientfor diagnosis. A radiotherapy apparatus, a shock wave treatmentapparatus, and a warm temperature treatment apparatus are used fortreating a part of a patient.

[0004] A hospital where these apparatuses are installed is systematizedfor saving medical staff's labours. The medial staff is specialized.Usually, each of these medical apparatuses is placed in a specificexamination room or a treatment room (hereinafter both rooms are simplyreferred as an “inspection room”). To be imaged or treated, a patient iscarried into the inspection room by a stretcher. In such a situation,after a medical staff checks a patient name, a doctor obtains a medicalimage of the patient or treats the patient. Before imaging or treating,individual information of a patient, such as a patient ID, name, sex, ora birth date, and condition information for imaging or treating(hereinafter called as “inspection condition information”), are inputtedinto a medical apparatus.

[0005] A conventional medical diagnostic imaging apparatus, as disclosedin Japanese Patent Publication No. 5-269117, has two input devices. Eachinput devices has the same function. One of the input devices is placedin a room where an operator operates the medical diagnostic imagingapparatus, and the other is installed on a gantry of the medicaldiagnostic imaging apparatus. A system including these two input devicesis called as a double console system. By these input devices, a staffcan input and refer to patient's individual information and inspectioncondition information.

[0006] In addition, there is an identification (ID) system, as disclosedin Japanese Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 2000-311194, for identifyinga particular patient. To identify the patient by this ID system, thepatient has a non-contacting data career for storing an individual data.A portable reading device reads the individual data. According to the IDsystem, misidentification of a patient, especially an inpatient, may bedecreased.

[0007] However, when a patient name is checked by the double consolesystem, it is difficult for a busy medical staff to find a particularpatient name among a multiplicity of information, e.g., patient'sindividual information, such as a patient ID, a name, sex, birth date,and inspection condition information, and so on. For example, by anX-ray CT apparatus, the patient name has to be found out from aplurality of inspection condition information, such as insertiondirection information (whether a patient is inserted from a leg or ahead to a gantry), field of view (FOV) information, X-ray tube currentinformation and imaging part, e.g., head or leg information (in additionto the patient's individual information. Also in an MRI apparatus, thepatient name has to be found out from a plurality of inspectioncondition information, such as insertion direction information, field ofview (FOV) information, pulse sequence information, e.g., repetitiontime and imaging part, e.g., head or leg information in addition to thepatient's individual information of the patient. Initially, an operatorinputs the patient's individual information and the inspection conditioninformation by a console provided in a room outside an inspection room.Next, using the other console placed at a gantry, a medical staff in theinspection room where the apparatus is placed, searches information of apatient who will be imaged or treated. Further the medical staff has topick up the patient's individual information related to the searchedpatient. Accordingly, since each console in the conventional doubleconsole system has the same function, it is very hard to check thepatient's individual information, such as the patient name.

[0008] The identification system is complex to operate, and additionallyit needs great initial investment and running cost.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] The present invention intends to solve the above-mentionedproblems. Accordingly, the present invention provides a medicalapparatus that may easily decrease misidentification of a particularpatient. Consistent with the present invention, there is provided amedical apparatus comprising a main unit configured to treat or image anobject, an input unit configured to input condition information of themain unit and individual information of the object, a control unitconfigured to extract at least one item in the individual informationfrom the inputted condition information and the inputted individualinformation, and a display unit configured to display the extracted itemon a screen. Also consistent with the present invention, there isprovided a medical apparatus comprising a main unit configured to treator image an object, a display unit configured to display a name of theobject on a screen, an input unit configured to input confirmationinformation when the object confirms the displayed name, and anotification unit configured to notify an operator operating the mainunit that the confirmation information is inputted. Also consistent withthe present invention, there is provided a method, for controlling amedical apparatus, comprising inputting condition information of a mainunit configured to treat or image an object and individual informationof the object, extracting at least one item in the individualinformation from the inputted condition information and the inputtedindividual information, and displaying the extracted item on a screen.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] A more complete appreciation of the invention and many of theattendant advantages thereof will be readily obtained as the samebecomes better understood by reference to the detailed description whenconsidered in connection with the accompanying drawings. Whereverpossible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout thedrawings to the same or the like parts. In the drawings:

[0011]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a medical apparatus according toan embodiment consistent with the present invention;

[0012]FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an X-ray CT apparatus applied in thefirst embodiment;

[0013]FIG. 3 is a flow chart for explaining an operation of the X-ray CTapparatus;

[0014]FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a modified embodiment of a gantry inan X-ray CT apparatus;

[0015]FIGS. 5A-5E illustrate examples of a displayed screen;

[0016]FIG. 6 is a block diagram of an X-ray CT apparatus according toanother embodiment consistent with the invention; and

[0017]FIG. 7 is a block diagram of an X-ray CT apparatus according toanother embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0018] Reference will now be made in detail to the exemplary embodimentsof the invention, examples of which are illustrated with reference toFIG. 1 to FIG. 6. As illustrated in FIG. 1, In an inspection room 1 in ahospital, a gantry 2 of an X-ray CT apparatus and a patient carrying bed3 (hereinafter collectively called as a main part 7). Further, in anoperation room 4 next to the inspection room 1, a console 5 is providedfor controlling the main part 7. A display unit 6 is provided on asurface of the gantry 2 of the X-ray CT apparatus. Dotted lines aresignal lines for electrically connecting between the console 5 and themain part 7 including the display unit 6. The display unit 6 displays apatient name being inspected by the main part 7 of the X-ray CTapparatus., A color liquid crystal display (LCD) unit or a lightemitting diode (LED) unit is suitable for the display unit 6. Of course,other types of various display units may be used. The LCD unit and theLED unit may display a patient name not only in some character forms,such as a Chinese character form, a Japanese KATANAKA form, a Romanalphabet form, and an English form but also in some color forms. Forinstance, it may be possible to display a different color by man andwoman. By using these forms, a patient can be easily identified.

[0019]FIG. 2 explains the details of the X-ray CT apparatus. A gantry 2has a central aperture 21 for inserting a patient P laid on a bed plate31. Usually, an inside of the gantry 2 cannot be seen, since a surfaceof the gantry 2 is covered with a cover unit 22. The gantry 2 includesan X-ray tube 23 and an X-ray detector 24 that are arranged so as toplace a patient between them. A high voltage generator 25 supplies anX-ray tube current and a voltage to the X-ray tube 23, a data collectionunit 26 collects projection data of the patient P obtained by the X-raydetector 24, and a rotation drive unit 27 rotates the X-ray tube 23 andthe X-ray detector 24 around the patient P. The bed plate 31 is drivenin a longitudinal direction to place the patient P at an appropriateposition in the aperture 21 for imaging. The console 5 includes an imagereconstruction unit 51 for reconstructing an image based on theprojection data collected by the data collection unit 26 and a systemcontroller 52 that includes a computer and a memory, for controlling thedata collection unit 26, the image reconstruction unit 51, the highvoltage generator 25, the rotation drive unit 27, the bed drive unit 32,e.g. The console 5 includes an operation unit 53 for inputting varioussetting values and orders by an operator. Further, the console 5includes a monitor 54 for displaying inputted information and areconstructed image.

[0020]FIG. 3 shows a procedure for collecting a medical image of apatient P. Before imaging, by using the operation unit 53, an operatorinputs patient's individual information, such as patient ID, name, sex,and birth date, with seeing the inputted information displayed on a of amonitor 54 The inputted patient's individual information is stored in amemory of a system controller 52 (Step 1). If a plurality of patients issuccessively imaged, each of patients' individual information may beinputted in advance. Next, an operator inputs an inspection planincluding inspection condition information in accordance with aparticular patient P (Step 2). After conforming the inputted inspectionplan, the operator inputs determination information by the operationunit 53 to determine the patient's individual information and theinspection plan. Accessing the patient's individual information inaccordance with the determination operation, the system controller 52extracts only the patient name to display the extracted patient name onthe display unit 6 provided on a surface of the gantry 2 of the X-ray CTapparatus (Step 3). In this embodiment, the patient name only isextracted. Of course, it is possible to extract, other patient'sindividual information, such as sex birth date.

[0021] When a medical staff calls a name of the patient P in a waitingroom, the patient P comes into an inspection room 1. At this time, thepatient P can look at his name on the display unit 6. Thus, it becomespossible for the patient who is going to be inspected to confirm hisname in the inspection room. The patient P changes to inspection clothesin a changing corner 11 in the inspection room 1. The changing corner 11is separated from an inspection place by, such as, a curtain. Afterchanging clothes, the patient P lies on the bed plate 31 in accordancewith an instruction of a medical staff. An operator enters theinspection room 1 to explain about the imaging to the patient P. Theoperator or a medical staff adjusts a position of the patient P. Theoperator and the medical staff move to the operation room 4 to image thepatient P according to an inspection plan (Step 4). If there is aproblem, the imaging is continued with confirming the images by theoperator. If there is no problem, the operator inputs the endinformation with the operation unit 53 to complete the imaging (Step 5).According to this end operation, the system controller 52 initializesthe inspection plan and the display unit 6 removes the patient name froma screen (Step 6). After the medical staff informs the patient P of thecompletion of the inspection, the patient P wears his own clothes toleave the inspection room 1. The operator or another special doctordiagnoses the patient P based on the patient's medical image copied to afilm or displayed on a monitor to make a report for describing a resultof the diagnosis. At this time, the patient's individual information,such as the patient name and the patient ID, is also copied to the filmor displayed on the monitor according to control of the systemcontroller 52. The same patient's individual information also isincluded in the report.

[0022] Since the patient name is extracted from the inputted patient'sindividual information by the system controller 52 to be displayed onthe display unit 6, as one of the routine operations, the patient Pcoming into the inspection room 1 can confirm his name by himself, whichavoids misidentification of the patient. If the displayed name on thedisplay unit 6 is incorrect, the patient may inform the error to themedical staff. Consequently, the misidentification can be quicklycorrected. If the patient is carried to the inspection room 1 by astretcher, the medical stuff or an attendant person can check thedisplayed name to correct the misidentification in advance. Moreover,since the patient's individual information, such as the patient name andthe patient ID, is copied to a film or displayed on a monitor with theimage or included in the report where the diagnosis result described,the result can be correspondent to the patient even after inspection.

[0023] In this embodiment, the display unit 6 where the patient name isdisplayed is placed on the surface of the gantry 2 of the X-ray CTapparatus. Of course, the present invention is not limited to thespecific details and can be modified as other embodiments explainedbelow.

[0024]FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a gantry of an X-ray CTapparatus according to another embodiment. A peripheral portion aroundan aperture 21 of a gantry 2 includes gradually sloped part for placinga display unit 6. Thus, when a patient P laid on the bed plate 31 isinserted to the aperture 21 of the gantry, the display unit 6 comes intoa patient's view. The display unit 6 may be placed at an inside part ofthe aperture 21 instead of the sloping part. In this embodiment, arespective display unit 6 is placed at each side of the gantry. Ofcourse, it is possible place the display unit at one side only.According to this embodiment, various types of information can bedisplayed on the display unit 6 as shown in FIGS. 5A-5E. As shown inFIG. 5A, a patient name is kept displaying until inspection is started.When the inspection is started, situation information of the inspection,such as time information of an end of the inspection, or instructioninformation to the patient, such as breath information, may be displayedas a character, or a mark. As another example, the instructioninformation may include waiting information to keep the patient waitingbetween a pre-imaging and a main imaging. The pre-imaging may be ascanogram imaging, and the waiting information instructs the patient tokeep waiting while an operator sets FOV on the scanogram. FIG. 5B showsthe time information indicating residual time to the end of theinspection as a numerical indication and FIG. 5C shows it as a starindication having a plurality of star marks that are turned on in anorder according to a predetermined time. FIGS. 5D and 5E show the breathinformation that respectively instructs the patient to stop and releasea breath. These types of information make it possible not only toconfirm a patient name but also to quiet the patient's fear for theinspection. The display unit 6 may be placed at a part where the patientcan easily find, such as a bed.

[0025]FIG. 6 illustrates another embodiment. A display unit 6A similarto the display unit 6 is located on a surface of a wall of an inspectionroom 1 and faces an entrance 12 of the inspection room 1. The displayunit 6A displays a patient name confirmed by an operator. Thus, when theentrance door 13 of the inspection room 1 is opened, the patient P canconfirm his name on the display unit 6A. To simplify the explanation,the other explanations of the construction of this embodiment areomitted by attaching the same reference numbers in FIG. 6 as illustratedin FIG. 1. The display unit 6A may be similarly located on a place whichis easy for a patient to see in the inspection room 1. Of course, thedisplay unit 6A may not be located on the inside surface of the wall ofthe inspection room 1, but may be located on an outside surface of thewall near the entrance 12 of the inspection room 1 instead.

[0026]FIG. 7 explains further embodiment of the invention which includesan input device 8 to input confirmation information. This input device 8is provided on a gantry 2 near a display unit 6. When the patientconfirms a displayed his name on the display unit 6, he pushes a buttonof the input device 8 in order to confirm the displayed information. Theconfirmed information is transmitted to a console 5 to be displayed on amonitor 54 in an operation room 4. Accordingly, an operator operatingthe console 5 can recognize that the patient has confirmed that thedisplayed name corresponds to his name. While, if the displayed namedoes not correspond to the patient's name, the patient does not push theabove-mentioned button. The console 5 controls a main part 7 to postponeimaging the patient until the patient name is correctly confirmed. i.e.,until the button is pushed. An attendant or an operator or a medicalstaff who can confirm that a displayed name corresponds to the patient'name by asking the patient may push the button. The input device 8 mayincludes another button for postponing imaging the patient. Stillfurther embodiment of the invention may include a lump provided at aposition where an operator can observe, such as near a gantry 22. Thelump turns ON when the patient name is confirmed. Moreover, it is alsopossible to remove the patient's name from the display screen 6 if thebutton of the input device 8 is pushed.

[0027] The present invention is not limited to a medical apparatus fixedin a facility, such as a hospital, but is also applicable to a mobilemedical apparatus installed in a medical vehicle that moves arounddepopulation area. Also the present invention is not limited to an X-rayCT apparatus but is applicable to various medical apparatuses includinga treatment apparatus and a medical imaging apparatus. For example, themedical imaging apparatus includes an X-ray diagnostic apparatus, a MRIapparatus, and a nuclear medicine apparatus. And the treatment apparatusincludes a radiotherapy apparatus, such as a linear acceleratorapparatus, a microtron apparatus, a betatron apparatus, and an apparatususing a cobalt 60. Further the treatment apparatus includes an impulsetherapy apparatus, such as an impulse wave medical treatment apparatusand a warm temperature medical treatment apparatus using microwave orultrasound. As another example, if there is a cloth changing room nearan inspection room, the display unit 6A may possible to locate in thecloth changing room. If there is a cloth changing place in an inspectionroom, the display unit 6A may be located in the cloth changing place.

[0028] Further, if there is a waiting room for an inspection, a displayunit 6A may be located in the waiting room. In this case, it is notnecessary to keep displaying a patient's name on the display unit 6Aafter the patient enters the inspection room from the waiting room.Accordingly, the display unit 6A may remove the patient name from ascreen when the patient is confirmed to enter the inspection room.

[0029] Further, a voice generator for generating voice information bytransforming electrical information of a patient name to the voiceinformation to output the voice information as sound, such as “Mr.______. Please enter an inspection room.” may be provided.

[0030] As another example, there may be a plurality of display unitsdisplaying simultaneously the same patient name, which is more effectivefor preventing misidentification of the patient.

[0031] The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments,and various modifications may be made without departing from the spiritor scope of the general inventive concept.

What is claimed is:
 1. A medical apparatus, comprising: a main unitconfigured to treat or image an object; an input unit configured toinput condition information of the main unit and individual informationof the object; a control unit configured to extract at least one item inthe individual information from the inputted condition information andthe inputted individual information; and a display unit configured todisplay the extracted item on a screen.
 2. The medical apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein the control unit extracts a name of theobject from the individual information.
 3. The medical apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein the input unit is placed in a differentroom from a room where the main unit is placed.
 4. The medical apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein the display unit is placed in such aposition that the object can see the screen.
 5. The medical apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein the display unit is placed in a positionon or near a peripheral portion around an aperture of the main unit, theobject inserted into the aperture.
 6. The medical apparatus according toclaim 1, wherein the display unit is placed in a same room as the mainunit is placed.
 7. The medical apparatus according to claim 1, whereinthe display unit is placed in a position against an entrance for theobject.
 8. The medical apparatus according to claim 1, wherein thedisplay unit is placed in a position near an entrance of a room wherethe main unit is placed or is placed in a clothes changing room adjacentto a room where the main unit is placed.
 9. The medical apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein the display unit includes a color LCD unitor an LED unit.
 10. The medical apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:the input unit inputs determination information to determine theinputted condition information and the inputted individual information;and the display unit starts to display the extracted item when thedetermination information is inputted.
 11. The medical apparatusaccording to claim 1, further comprising a voice generation unitconfigured to generate voice information of the extracted item.
 12. Themedical apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display unit removesthe extracted item from the screen when the treating or imaging of theobject is completed.
 13. The medical apparatus according to claim 1,wherein the display unit starts to display situation information of thetreating or imaging or instruction information to the object when thetreating or imaging of the object starts.
 14. The medical apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein the main unit is an imaging unitconfigured to image the object.
 15. The medical apparatus according toclaim 14, wherein the imaging unit is one of an X-ray diagnosticapparatus unit, an X-ray CT apparatus unit, an MRI apparatus unit, and anuclear medicine apparatus unit.
 16. The medical apparatus according toclaim 14, further comprising a memory unit configured to store theextracted item in addition to an image of the object.
 17. The medicalapparatus according to claim 1, wherein the main unit is one of aradiotherapy treatment apparatus unit, a shock wave treatment apparatusunit, and a warm temperature treatment apparatus unit.
 18. The medicalapparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display unit displayswaiting information to keep the object waiting between a pre-imaging anda main imaging.
 19. A medical apparatus, comprising: a main unitconfigured to treat or image an object; a display unit configured todisplay a name of the object on a screen; an input unit configured toinput confirmation information when the object confirms the displayedname; and a notification unit configured to notify an operator operatingthe main unit that the confirmation information is inputted.
 20. Themedical apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the display unitremoves the name of the object from the screen when the displayed nameis correct.
 21. The medical apparatus according to claim 19, furthercomprising a control unit configured to control the main unit topostpone treating or imaging the object until the confirmationinformation is inputted.
 22. A method for controlling a medicalapparatus, comprising: inputting condition information of a main unitconfigured to treat or image an object; inputting individual informationof the object; extracting at least one item in the individualinformation from the inputted condition information and the inputtedindividual information; and displaying the extracted item on a screen.